Book ‘em, Danno

I was at the Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K this past weekend. I was supposed to speak last year, but my mom had just had her stroke and Jack Staph was understanding enough to not press for me to come. So, to return his courtesy, I spoke THIS year.

Because I am speaking exclusively at the Competitor Events and the Rock ‘n’ Roll series, I tend to see many of the same folks throughout the year. I’m happy about that because it means that I’ve gotten to know people pretty well even though I only see them a few times a year. It’s also true that the Rock ‘n’ Rollers tend to be a certain kind of folk and many have traveled far from home to participate.

The Cleveland Marathon events seemed much more local, or regional. That’s not a bad thing at all. And not everyone was local, but the event had much more of the hometown feel. In part that’s because the race owners, the Staph family, have been putting the race on for 33 years. If there’s a question all someone has to do is find Jack or Ralph and they can get an answer.

For some reason I got into a conversation with the crowd that had come to hear me speak BEFORE I started officially speaking. Somehow the conversation turned to whether or not I was working on a new book. The timing was perfect because I am – in fact – thinking about whether or not I want to take on the challenge of a new book and – if so – what would should that book be.

As we talked it became clear that what THOSE folks wanted was a follow-up to “The Courage to Start”. THEY wanted the stories, reflections, and humor of “Courage” but told from the perspective of someone who has now been running for nearly 20 years. I KNOW! I don’t believe it either. But I’ve been a runner for almost 20 years.

So I’m tossing it out to all of you reading this. What do YOU want? What makes the most sense?

I don’t think I want to do a training book. With Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals [written together with Coach Jenny Hadfield] it seems like I’ve been there, done that.

The title that keeps coming up is something called “The Accidental Athlete: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Middle Age”. The truth is that it has been a funny journey from chubby junior high kid in high-top keds and black socks to – well – to this blog.

So let me hear from YOU about what you want to hear from ME.

Waddle on, friends. John “the Penguin” Bingham, Competitor Magazine columnist Author, The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals.

Have a question for John? E-mail it to thepenguin@johnbingham.com.